What Makes a UK Independent School Top For STEM?
By Annabel Dunstan
Summary
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: the famous four that go together to make the acronym STEM. It’s a term that we hear a lot, because all schools teach STEM, but some institutions go a step further and market themselves as having a STEM specialism. What does being a good STEM school actually look like? How are these places different from any other school? And why could this option be important to consider for your child? If your son or daughter is a STEM whizz – they devour books about space, they build impressively intricate pulley systems out of Lego and string, and they’ve learnt the thirteen times table for fun – then this article is for you. With expert insight from Dr Andy Kemp (Principal of The National Mathematics and Science College), we uncover what makes a school ‘specialist STEM’, and why it could be the right place for your child.
STEM Is Everywhere – So What Sets Specialist Schools Apart?
The first important thing to make clear is that every school does STEM. Maths and the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) are core throughout the lower school and compulsory at GCSE, and this is the case across all institutions. Computing and Design and Technology are also compulsory on the National Curriculum for the lower school, and are frequently offered as GCSE or A-level options just like Maths and the Sciences. One small difference you may come across in your research is that some schools offer a ‘Double’ or ‘Combined’ Science GCSE as an alternative to (or sometimes, in place of) the traditional ‘Triple’ or ‘Separate’ Sciences; all this means is that Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught as an integrated course resulting in two grades, rather than as three distinct subjects with three separate results at the end. Although the course content is slightly reduced for the Combined qualification compared to the Separate Sciences, the Combined Science course still affords students enough knowledge and grounding to be able to progress onto A-level. As such, even in cases where the GCSE Science provision appears different or lesser, the fact remains that every school will offer your child the opportunity to succeed in STEM. STEM is done everywhere – so what makes STEM specialists stand out?
Perhaps the most obvious difference is that specialist STEM schools have more facilities and resources for their STEM subjects than other schools might. This applies to both their spaces and their equipment. Just as a specialist music school might offer more practice rooms or bespoke performance spaces on their site, a STEM school is likely to have a range of specialist labs. For example, they will often teach Biology, Chemistry and Physics in bespoke Biology, Chemistry and Physics classrooms. Rather than having generic ‘Science’ classrooms that double up (or indeed triple up!) to cater for multiple sciences, each space is tailored to suit the needs of its particular subject. Test tubes might be stored in a designated Chemistry space, rather than clogging up shelves in a Physics cupboard. Gas taps might only be fitted in classrooms that run chemical experiments – on a Biology desk a gas tap would be more of a fiddling-point for idle fingers than a practical resource. A Physics lab might have mobile desks that can be pushed aside to make space for larger experiments with trolleys and springs. All these are adjustments that make the specialist STEM environment more customised, more streamlined. Some schools have spaces that cater for even more specific fields, such as observatories for astrophysics and engineering workshops for practical mechanics. Look up a site map of your chosen school; visit if you can. What learning spaces do they have? And how are those spaces geared towards the actual delivery of the subjects?
Specialist equipment is perhaps even more important than specialist learning spaces. Just as a strong sporting school keeps all the right bats, balls and racquets in good condition, so a strong STEM school invests in its equipment. Forget faulty Bunsen burners and goggles so scratched you have to lift them up to see the experiment: a school that seriously cares about STEM will channel energy and funding into keeping its equipment in pristine working order. And it’s not just about upkeep: many specialist STEM schools invest in more sophisticated tools and technologies. They might have 3D imaging capability, opening up new visual teaching opportunities. They might have CAD/CAM tools (Computer-Aided Design and Manufacture) to make your child’s inventions material. From exploratory Virtual Reality headsets to hands-on robotics kits, STEM schools provide a range of specialist equipment, and if these are the kinds of tools that would get your child excited about their passion, then it’s worth investigating the schools that provide them. As well as all these enriching, whizz-bang pieces of kit, we should not overlook the more everyday devices. All education (beyond just Computing itself) is moving into a digital age, and devices are increasingly being integrated into our children’s day to day learning. How is your chosen school equipped for this? Perhaps they have specialist suites of desktop computers: these offer high processing power and large screen space for complex technical projects. Maybe they have shifted to individual mobile devices: these invite flexibility and collaboration that applies to all subjects. Both systems have merits, but consider what would best benefit your child as you look at what schools are providing.
Beyond the Classroom: Enrichment and Opportunity in STEM
It's not just practical facilities and resources that specialist STEM schools offer excellently: they also facilitate intellectual opportunities. Dr Andy Kemp (Principal of The National Mathematics and Science College) explains that a specialist STEM environment:
“creates opportunities to enhance or enrich the curriculum in ways that aren't possible in other schools. For example [at the National Mathematics and Science College] we have a core STEM Communication programme which everyone at the College studies which provides them with opportunities to undertake individual and group research and learn how to communicate their findings to others. This programme has led to several of our students getting articles published in professional journals, all before they've even finished their A-levels.”
If your child would be fired up by these opportunities to engage with STEM beyond the curriculum, if they’re set on a STEM degree and a STEM career and would benefit from really building their STEM CV, then it’s definitely worth looking for a specialist STEM school. Find a place that is committed to finding valuable development opportunities for your child, so that their STEM journey can be supported and enriched from day one.
It's reasonable to assume that a specialist STEM school will offer better quality STEM teachers – but this isn’t necessarily so black and white. There are high-quality teachers in every school, and having a specialism in a non-STEM area does not mean that all the other teaching is rubbish. A regular school can still offer excellence in STEM teaching. Equally, having a claimed specialism does not automatically guarantee teaching excellence, and you should take care to investigate the evidence of a school’s quality before applying, rather than blindly believing a title or label. However, specialist STEM schools are more likely to have dedicated personnel who teach only their own subject. Rather than the same ‘Technology’ teacher handling everything from Graphic Design to Resistant Materials, or an umbrella ‘Science’ teacher juggling Biology, Chemistry and Physics, a STEM specialist school is more likely to match teachers to their precise area of expertise. This means that the teaching is delivered by true specialists, who can act as inspiring role models within their specific fields.
Furthermore, Dr Andy Kemp reflects that:
"a specialist environment also changes the way in which you teach."
All teachers adapt and adjust their plans, methods and teaching styles to suit the needs of their particular classes. Knowing that a whole cohort is strong, driven, and accessing the same experiences in STEM opens up teaching opportunities that would not be feasible in an ordinary mixed-interest, mixed-ability group. Kemp elaborates:
"Knowing that everyone in the class is studying mathematics to at least A-level with most also studying further mathematics allows you to engage with the proofs and derivations of results in the other sciences in a formal way that isn't possible if not everyone in the class has met calculus, for example."
Is there such thing as a STEM ethos in an Independent School?
Studying in a specialist STEM environment means that your child is amongst peers who are similarly passionate and excited about STEM subjects. In these schools, it is both cool and normal to like Maths and Science, and that’s something that everyone shares, students and teachers alike. At My Top Schools, we believe that the ethos of a school should be of vital importance in your search for the right place to send your children. What are the school’s priorities? What matters to them? A school’s core values infuse their whole environment, so it’s important to find a good match between their ethos and your family’s. If you want an education for your child that highly values STEM, which will surround them with like-minded STEM-loving individuals and prioritise STEM-based opportunities, then it is well worth considering a specialist STEM school that functions in this way. This kind of environment could be especially valuable for girls, who remain underrepresented in STEM nationwide. Despite a recent increase in female STEM graduates, women continue to face barriers in STEM including bias and underfunding, and their presence in the workforce remains very small in Engineering and IT. If your daughter has big dreams for one of these areas, a specialist STEM environment that will nurture that ambition and inspire her with positive female role models could give her just the kickstart she needs.
Overall, success in STEM is widely possible for your children, whether or not your chosen school specialises in that area. But the learning experience your child will have in a specialist STEM school – the extra opportunities and resources, the overarching attitude of the community – is not the same as in any other school. Dr Andy Kemp says that
"whilst there are many schools who will help you get your A* or A at A-level, the experience of being part of a specialist community is radically different and is designed not just to get you the grades you need to get onto the next step of your journey but to equip you with the skills and experiences so you are ready to thrive when you do as students from NatMatSci routinely do!"
Key Takeaways
- Lots of schools can facilitate success in STEM; it’s the learning experience that differs in a specialist STEM environment.
- Specialist STEM schools are likely to be well-resourced, with specialist tech, bespoke learning spaces, and staff who teach in their specific area of expertise rather than covering many subjects.
- If STEM is really what your child loves, is amazing at, and wants to pursue, then it could be worthwhile considering these schools.
Action
Feeling inspired to find the best school for a child who loves STEM? Contact My Top Schools today to receive our recommendations on STEM Specialist Schools!